CN201761148U

CN201761148U - Ink box

Info

Publication number: CN201761148U
Application number: CN2010205103459U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李世强; 侯亮
Original assignee: Print Rite Unicorn Image Products Co Ltd
Current assignee: Print Rite Unicorn Image Products Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-08-30
Filing date: 2010-08-30
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-30
Also published as: WO2012028073A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to an ink box, comprising a shell forming an ink cavity, an ink outlet, an air supply device for keeping balanced air pressure in the ink cavity and an ink quantity detecting device for detecting the rest quantity of ink in the ink cavity, wherein the ink quantity detecting device comprises a conducting piece arranged outside the ink cavity and a conducting probe arranged in the ink cavity and electrically connected with the conducting piece; and a sealing device for preventing ink from leaking is arranged between the conducting piece and the conducting probe. The ink box has the advantages of simple structure, strong applicability, low leakage risk of ink, and low possibility of being polluted.

Description

Print cartridge

Technical field

The utility model relates to ink-jet printer cartridge.

Background technology

Fig. 1 has shown the general configuration of existing print cartridge 100, this print cartridge 100 comprises housing 110, the housing 110 inner inking chambers 120 that hold ink 160 that form, print cartridge 100 is provided with and is used for the chip 150 that communicates with the printer (not shown), and the bottom of housing 110 has an ink outlet port 111 and China ink amount and detects mouthfuls 112.When using this print cartridge 100, the bottom of housing 110 printer of packing into down.Blotting pin 140 on the printer and detection pin 130 pass through ink outlet port 111 respectively and China ink amount detection mouth 112 inserts in the inking chambers 120, in ink outlet port 111 and China ink amount detection mouth 112, be respectively arranged with seal 131, ink leakage when preventing from blotting pin 140 and detecting pin 130 to insert inking chamber 120.When ink 160 is also sufficient, detect pin 130 and conduct with blotting pin 140 by ink, at this moment print cartridge 100 is exactly to also have sufficient ink available in the print cartridge to the information of printer; Consumption along with ink 160, liquid level in the inking chamber 120 lowers gradually, when liquid level is lower than warning liquid level h, causes circuit to disconnect because of losing conducting medium between blotting pin 140 and the detection pin 130, be exactly at this moment for the information of printer: quantity of ink is low, needs to change print cartridge or adds ink.

Detection pin 130 in the print cartridge 100 also has gas compensation function except having the function that detects the China ink amount.That is to say, consumption gradually along with ink 160, inking chamber 120 internal gas pressures can be lower than atmospheric pressure and form negative pressure, if negative pressure is excessive, can cause the blotting pin can't blotting, therefore, when when negative pressure reaches certain value, extraneous gas adds in the inking chamber 120 by the gas passage that detects in the pin, thereby keeps in a basic balance between air pressure in the inking chamber 120 and the atmosphere.

But, the China ink amount of this print cartridge detects the detection pin contact ink that will lean on the printer and realizes, if print cartridge can cause from air inlet ink leak that detects pin and the possibility of bringing pollutant into inking chamber to the printer installation repeatedly, make the detection pin continue to use and have the above-mentioned defective that is difficult to avoid; The pin replacing was once both unrealistic also can to produce very big waste if print cartridge once just will detect to the printer installation.

Summary of the invention

Main purpose of the present utility model provides a kind of simple in structure, highly versatile, the ink little print cartridge of low, the contaminated possibility of risk that leaks outside.

The print cartridge that the utility model provides, comprise the housing that forms inking chamber, ink outlet port, the making-up air device of maintenance inking chamber internal gas pressure balance, and the detection device of ink amount of the interior ink surplus of detection inking chamber, this detection device of ink amount comprises the conducting strip that is arranged on outside the inking chamber; Be arranged on the conductive probe that is electrically connected with conducting strip in the inking chamber; Between conducting strip and conductive probe, also be provided with the sealing device that prevents that ink from spilling.

Adopt this print cartridge with regard to technical scheme, its checkout gear is divided in the inking chamber and the outer two parts of inking chamber, when using on the machine, the detection pin of printer does not need to be inserted into inking chamber inside, and just be connected with the conducting strip of inking chamber outside, can realize detecting the function of China ink amount, can prevent that also ink is contaminated because of the insertion that detects pin, also can prevent that sealing device is damaged because of the frequent insertion that detects pin simultaneously.

The utility model also provides a kind of print cartridge, and its conducting strip has the shape of similar Ω, and its top is electrically connected with conductive probe, and its underpart opening also has elasticity.

Use the print cartridge of this structure, its checkout gear can better be electrically connected with the detection pin on the printer.

The utility model further provides a kind of print cartridge, and its making-up air device is the gas unidirectional valve, and this gas unidirectional valve comprises the gas passage that is communicated with atmosphere and described inking chamber, the seals of salable gas passage, and the spring that links to each other with seals.

Use the print cartridge of technique scheme, structure is simpler, and compatibility is stronger.

The utility model also provides a kind of print cartridge, and its making-up air device comprises the gas passage that is communicated with atmosphere and described inking chamber, and the gas buffer body that is positioned at gas passage, and this gas buffer body is a sponge.

The utility model also provides a kind of print cartridge, and this print cartridge also comprises the ink check valve, and this ink check valve comprises the ink channel to ink outlet port from inking chamber, the ink seal of salable this ink channel, and the spring that links to each other with this ink seal.

Print cartridge in the technique scheme can better guarantee the sealing of ink, prevents ink leak.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the structural representation of existing print cartridge;

Fig. 2 is the cutaway view of the print cartridge of the utility model embodiment;

Fig. 3 is the stereogram of the print cartridge of the utility model embodiment;

Fig. 4 is the cutaway view of print cartridge when user mode of the utility model embodiment;

Fig. 5 is the b partial enlarged drawing of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged drawing of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is the print cartridge cutaway view of another embodiment of the utility model;

Fig. 8 is the c partial enlarged drawing of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is the d partial enlarged drawing of Fig. 7.

The utility model is described in further detail below in conjunction with drawings and Examples.

The specific embodiment

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 have shown the basic structure of an embodiment, and for the purpose of explanation was clear more, Fig. 3 shows be that print cartridge is in not was inversion state under the normal operating condition.The print cartridge of this embodiment comprises housing 20, and the inking chamber 10 that is surrounded by housing 20, and this housing 20 is provided with chip component 30, and this chip component 30 comprises a chip 31.Be provided with gas unidirectional valve 50 at the top of housing 20; Be provided with ink outlet port 21 and detection device of ink amount 40 in the bottom of housing 20.The below of detection device of ink amount 40 is provided with the China ink amount and detects mouth 22.In the ink channel of ink outlet port 21, also be provided with seal 23.

When this print cartridge came into operation, as shown in Figure 4, the blotting pin 60 on the printer (not shown) passed ink outlet port 21 and enters into inking chamber 10, contacts with ink 15; Detecting pin 70 passes the China ink amount and detects mouthfuls 22 and contact with detection device of ink amount 40.As shown in Figure 6, detection device of ink amount 40 comprises conducting strip 41, conductive probe 42, seal 43, seal 44 and coupling bar 45.In the present embodiment, conducting strip 41 has the shape of similar Ω, and there is opening its underpart, the flexible button pawl in opening two ends.When on the print cartridge during machine, detect pin 70 and pass the China ink amount and detect mouthfuls 22 and only contact, and do not enter into inking chamber with conducting strip 41.The resilient fingers of conducting strip 41 bottoms can tighten and detected pin 70 this moment, thereby kept detecting reliable electrical connection the between pin 70 and the conducting strip 41.In other embodiment, conducting strip also can be made into other shapes such as column, ring-type even spring-like, as long as guarantee conducting strip and reliable electrical connection of detecting between the pin.Conducting strip 41 tops link to each other with conductive probe 42 by the coupling bar 45 of conduction.Mode that it should be noted that coupling bar is not the unique connected mode of conducting strip and conductive probe, and any effective electric connection mode all is applicable to the utility model.

Conductive probe 42 keeps being electrically connected with blotting pin 60 by the electric conductivity of ink, when the China ink amount is reduced to warning liquid level h when following, is electrically connected disconnections between conductive probe 42 and the blotting pin 60, and the black quantity not sufficient of printer prompts need replacing print cartridge or interpolation ink.For when the printer prompts China ink quantity not sufficient, the inks 15 in the inking chamber 10 are unlikely to use up, and the position of conductive probe 42 can the whole conductive probe position partly that effectively is electrically connected take place with blotting pin 60, preferably is higher than ink outlet port 21 at once; Under the situation of using blotting pin 60, conductive probe 42 should be higher than the residing position of ink-sucking port of blotting pin 60 at least, and certainly, the ink-sucking port of blotting pin 60 can just be near the ink outlet port 21.When being reduced to, the China ink amount guards against below the liquid level h like this, be conductive probe 42 with blotting pin 60 between be electrically connected when disconnecting, below 42, just still have certain China ink amount residue at conductive probe in the space more than the ink-sucking port of blotting pin 60, change print cartridge or additional ink for client's adequate time.In addition, reveal from detection device of ink amount 40, between conductive probe 42 and conducting strip 41, be provided with the seal 43 of cover tubular and the seal 44 of round in order to prevent the ink 15 in the inking chamber 10.In other embodiments, seal can be one or more, also can manufacture arbitrary shape according to actual needs.

In order to keep the air pressure balance inside and outside the inking chamber, print cartridge is provided with gas unidirectional valve 50 as making-up air device, as shown in Figure 5.Gas unidirectional valve 50 is arranged on the top of print cartridge, comprises the seals 51 and the spring 52 that are arranged in the gas passage, and inking chamber is communicated with atmosphere by gas passage, and gas passage comprises air inlet 53 and gas outlet 54.When the negative pressure in the inking chamber during greater than certain value, under the effect of pressure reduction, the elastic force that overcomes spring 52 is pushed seals 51 open, enter gas unidirectional valve 50 from

air inlet

53,54 come out to enter into inking chamber 20 from the gas outlet, and when pressure reduction was reduced to certain value, the restoring force of spring 52 promoted seals 51 and is sealed into gas port 53, prevent that ink 15 from leaking from inking chamber 20, finished the do action in the tonifying Qi process one time.

In a further embodiment, making-up air device can not be arranged on the top of print cartridge, but is arranged on the middle part or the bottom of print cartridge as required.In addition, making-up air device also can be made of fluid cushion portion 90, as Fig. 7 and shown in Figure 9.Fluid cushion portion 90 is arranged on the top of print cartridge, comprises gas passage and is arranged on the interior bolster 91 of gas passage, and gas passage comprises air inlet 92 and gas outlet 93.Bolster 91 can be that sponge also can other known fluid cushion materials.Fluid cushion portion 90 not only can hold gas and pass through under the effect of negative pressure, can also effectively prevent ink leakage.

Fig. 7 has shown another embodiment of the present utility model, and in this embodiment, print cartridge comprises housing 20, and the inking chamber 10 that is formed by housing 20, and this housing 20 is provided with chip component 30.Be provided with fluid cushion portion 90 at the top of housing 20; Be provided with ink outlet port 21 and detection device of ink amount 40 in the bottom of housing 20.The below of detection device of ink amount 40 is provided with the China ink amount and detects mouth 22.In the ink channel of ink outlet port 21, also be provided with seal 23.In this embodiment, flow to from inking chamber 10 at ink on the passage of ink outlet port 21 and also be provided with a liquid check valve 80, this liquid check valve 80 is arranged on the upstream of ink outlet port 21.As shown in Figure 8, this liquid check valve 80 comprises liquid sealant 81 and the spring 82 that is arranged on the fluid passage, and fluid passage comprises an inlet 83 and a liquid outlet 84.When print cartridge uses, along with the ink at ink outlet port 21 places constantly consumes, the fluid pressure in liquid check valve 80 downstreams is gradually less than the pressure of its upstream liquid, when pressure reduction during greater than certain value, the elastic force that liquid check valve 80 liquid upstream overcome spring 82 is pushed liquid sealant 81 open and is flowed to the downstream, thereby replenishes inks for ink outlet port 21; When the fluid pressure differential of upstream and downstream during less than certain value, liquid sealant 81 is returned to the position of sealing inlet 83, has so just finished the do action in the fluid pressure equilibrium process.Meanwhile, when inking chamber 10 internal gas pressures reduced, the resistance that negative pressure forces ambient atmosphere to overcome fluid cushion portion 90 added in the inking chamber 10, thereby kept the air pressure balance inside and outside the inking chamber 10.The existence of liquid check valve 80 has further improved the leak resistance of print cartridge.

In a word, technical conceive of the present utility model is not limited in the foregoing description, can also obtain many different concrete schemes according to design of the present utility model.Any change, combination and the equivalent transformation that carry out according to design of the present utility model all should be included within the described scope of claim.

Claims

1. print cartridge comprises the housing that forms inking chamber, and ink outlet port keeps the making-up air device of described inking chamber internal gas pressure balance, and the detection device of ink amount that detects ink surplus in the described inking chamber, it is characterized in that:

Described detection device of ink amount comprises

Be arranged on the outer conducting strip of described inking chamber;

Be arranged on the conductive probe that is electrically connected with described conducting strip in the described inking chamber;

Between described conducting strip and described conductive probe, be provided with the sealing device that prevents that ink from spilling.

2. print cartridge according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Described conducting strip has the shape of similar Ω, and its top is electrically connected with described conductive probe, and its underpart opening also has elasticity.

3. print cartridge according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

When described print cartridge was in user mode, the position of described conductive probe was higher than described ink outlet port.

4. print cartridge according to claim 1 is characterized in that described sealing device is a rubber ring.

5. print cartridge according to claim 1, it is characterized in that described making-up air device is the gas unidirectional valve, described gas unidirectional valve comprises the gas passage that is communicated with atmosphere and described inking chamber, the seals of salable described gas passage, and the spring that links to each other with described seals.

6. print cartridge according to claim 5 is characterized in that described gas unidirectional valve is arranged on the top of described print cartridge.

7. print cartridge according to claim 1 is characterized in that described making-up air device comprises the gas passage that is communicated with atmosphere and described inking chamber, and the gas buffer body that is positioned at gas passage.

8. print cartridge according to claim 7 is characterized in that described gas buffer body is a sponge.

9. according to any described print cartridge of claim 1 to 8, it is characterized in that also comprising the ink check valve, described ink check valve comprises the ink channel to described ink outlet port from described inking chamber, the ink seal of salable described ink channel, and the spring that links to each other with described ink seal.